Gulbadin Naib’s alleged injury, which some have accused of being a ploy to delay the game, led to a crucial wicket that secured Afghanistan’s historic entry into the World Cup semi-final, ultimately knocking out Australia.
The scenes of celebration in Kabul were a testament to the magnitude of this achievement, but the controversy surrounding Naib’s injury has left many cricket enthusiasts and experts divided.
In a rain-affected match in St Vincent, Afghanistan managed to secure an eight-run victory over Bangladesh, marking a historic moment in their cricket journey.
This win paved their way into the semi-final and set the stage for an intense showdown with South Africa, inspiring a new wave of hope and excitement among Afghan cricket fans.
However, Afghanistan’s win, which was determined by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method due to rain, was not without its share of controversy.
This method, designed to adjust the target score in rain-affected matches, stirred up debates and discussions, adding another layer of complexity to the match.
Bangladesh tried to win
In a tense cricket match, Bangladesh found themselves in a difficult position at 81 for seven in the 12th over while chasing Afghanistan’s total of 115.
As the rain started to fall, Afghanistan’s head coach, a former England batsman Jonathan Trott, was spotted in the dressing room instructing his players to slow down the game in the hope that the umpires would halt play due to the weather. At this point, Afghanistan had the advantage of using the DLS method.
A notable incident occurred when veteran Afghan player Gulbadin, fielding at slip to the spinner, took Trott’s instructions literally.
He suddenly fell to the ground, seemingly clutching his leg and appearing to feign a hamstring injury. Moments later, the players were indeed taken off the field due to the rain.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan seemed displeased with his teammate’s actions during this time, while Bangladesh batsman Litton Das mocked Gulbadin’s behaviour.
Much to the disdain of players worldwide
Adam Zampa, the Australian spinner, humorously referred to his injury as “the old rainstring” on Instagram.
Meanwhile, former New Zealand bowler Simon Doull strongly criticised what seemed to be cunning on the ICC’s commentary feed. Doull exclaimed, “Oh no, no, no, sorry. You can’t have this.
I’m not accepting that. Even Rashid doesn’t like it. It’s just delay tactics. I get it but I don’t like that at all. It is unacceptable.
They might have gone off anyway for the rain but that’s not a good look. I know the Euros are going on in football; you’d be better off there.”
Following a brief rain delay, the players returned to the field with Bangladesh’s target adjusted to 114 due to losing one over. Rashid completed his spell with an impressive four for 23.
Gulbadin, who had performed exceptionally in the previous win against Australia, made a significant impact by taking the eighth wicket of Tanzim Hasan Sakib with just his second ball. The tension escalated as Naveen-ul-Haq clinched the final two wickets amid dramatic scenes.
Notably, former England captain Michael Vaughan highlighted the spirit of cricket, expressing his admiration for Gulbadin’s resilience.
However, the victory in Afghanistan is a renewal of history
The victory is a massive moment for Afghanistan cricket. The men’s team has become a strong force in the game over the past decade, while the ruling Taliban has unfortunately banned the women’s team from playing. Afghanistan is now just one win away from reaching the World Cup final.
This loss is a bitter pill for Zampa and his Australian teammates. They had a promising start to the tournament, with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood even suggesting a strategic move against England.
However, after losing to Afghanistan and India in the Super 8 stage, Australia’s journey in the World Cup has come to an end, and England has advanced to the semi-finals.
The impact of this defeat on the Australian team and their fans is palpable, adding to the intensity of the T20 World Cup.
